US Navy conducts first drone in-flight refueling
Washington: The US Navy announced Wednesday that it had successfully completed the first in-flight refueling of a drone, widely increasing the use and range of the unmanned aircraft.
In a flight along the eastern coast of the United States, the unmanned prototype X-47B approached a tanker aircraft, managed to snag its refueling boom and received two tons of fuel, the US
By AFP
April 23, 2015
Washington: The US Navy announced Wednesday that it had successfully completed the first in-flight refueling of a drone, widely increasing the use and range of the unmanned aircraft.
In a flight along the eastern coast of the United States, the unmanned prototype X-47B approached a tanker aircraft, managed to snag its refueling boom and received two tons of fuel, the US Navy said.
"In manned platforms, aerial refueling is a challenging maneuver because of the precision required by the pilot to engage the basket," said Captain Beau Duarte in a report by the Navy.
"Adding an autonomous functionality creates another layer of complexity."
The Northrop Grumman-built X-47B is a stealth drone designed for use on aircraft carriers. In 2013, the Navy launched and landed the plane on an aircraft carrier for the first time.
Many US manufacturers are vying to build an unmanned plane that can be the future of military flight, but disagreements between the US Congress and the Navy have slowed development.
The Navy is particularly interested in an intelligence drone that can spend uninterrupted hours in the air collecting information.
Several influential Republican leaders in Congress are pushing for an offensive drone able to carry bombs and missiles over long distances.
The X-47B is powered by a stealthy jet engine and it has a wingspan of 62 feet (19 meters). (AFP)
In a flight along the eastern coast of the United States, the unmanned prototype X-47B approached a tanker aircraft, managed to snag its refueling boom and received two tons of fuel, the US Navy said.
"In manned platforms, aerial refueling is a challenging maneuver because of the precision required by the pilot to engage the basket," said Captain Beau Duarte in a report by the Navy.
"Adding an autonomous functionality creates another layer of complexity."
The Northrop Grumman-built X-47B is a stealth drone designed for use on aircraft carriers. In 2013, the Navy launched and landed the plane on an aircraft carrier for the first time.
Many US manufacturers are vying to build an unmanned plane that can be the future of military flight, but disagreements between the US Congress and the Navy have slowed development.
The Navy is particularly interested in an intelligence drone that can spend uninterrupted hours in the air collecting information.
Several influential Republican leaders in Congress are pushing for an offensive drone able to carry bombs and missiles over long distances.
The X-47B is powered by a stealthy jet engine and it has a wingspan of 62 feet (19 meters). (AFP)
-
Inside Jeffrey Epstein's troubling final days before suicide -
Woman, five others accused of plot to kill judge 'to free jailed lover' -
Japan’s cherry blossom festival canceled in Fujiyoshida; Here’s what to know -
Florida state employee jailed for over $1.5m fake claims scam -
North Korea executes teens over ‘Squid Game’ as K-Pop crackdown intensifies -
Hong Kong media tycoon 'Jimmy Lai' to be sentenced on Feb. 9: How the world sees it -
Australia, Indonesia sign new security pact to strengthen ties -
Trump declares ‘complete endorsement’ of Sanae Takaichi ahead of crucial snap election